Demarcus Chew killed early Sunday in shooting

A 27-year-old Burlington man died of gunshots early Sunday on North Hill in what family members say was an ambush involving an ongoing feud with another group of people.

Demarcus "Peanut" Chew was shot multiple times about 6 a.m. in an alley behind an apartment complex at 1021 N. Fifth St., where his mother, Cassandara Taylor, lives.

"I believe that A.J. (Smith) had something to do with my son's murder or some of his gang members did it," the emotional Taylor said at the scene. "They hunted my son down, waited in the dark, ambushed him and killed him. They shot into the back seat of the car, where he was sitting. They meant to kill him."

Lt. Dennis Kramer, a Burlington police department spokesman, said at the scene he would not comment on Taylor's accusations her son's killing was the result of an ongoing feud between her family and A.J. "Little Mo" Smith, who was involved in a running gun battle earlier this summer with Chew's brother, Timothy Chew, in the 400 block of South Central Avenue.

Kramer said investigators from the Burlington Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Iowa State Patrol were at the scene of today's homicide.

At least one other person was in the car when Chew was fatally shot. That person was not injured, authorities said.

"No one has been taken into custody, but we are searching for potential suspects," Kramer said. "It is an ongoing investigation."

Police blocked off two areas with police tape. One area was in an alley directly behind the apartment complex. A second area was at the intersection of Fifth and Iowa streets, where the vehicle Chew was riding in stopped. Several shards of broken glass from the right rear passenger seat window were scattered nearby.

Police believe the driver of the vehicle was attempting to flee the area after the shots were fired.

Investigators also found several shell casings from a small caliber handgun in the alley behind the apartment complex.

"I heard the shots and all the screaming and I got up and ran outside," Taylor said emotionally. "When I got to the car, Peanut was outside on the ground. When I looked into his eyes, I knew he was already gone. He was shot in the head and three times in the body. ... There was nothing I could do for my baby."

Kramer said police were dispatched to the area about 6 a.m. on numerous reports of multiple gunshots being fired.

"On the way to the scene, officers got a second report of a gunshot victim and that CPR was being performed," he said. "He was transported to Great River Medical Center."

Taylor told The Hawk Eye it was her son who was killed.

Taylor said she was convinced her son's death was the result of an ongoing disagreement between her family and Smith.

The disagreement between the two groups came to light during a recent trial in which Timothy Chew was charged with the attempted murder of Smith during a gunfight about 9 a.m. May 10 in the 400 block of South Central Avenue. The jury found Chew guilty of the lesser charge of going armed with intent and assault with intent to inflict bodily harm.

He faces up to seven years in prison. Had he been convicted of attempted murder, he would have faced 25 years in prison.

During the shootout, about 45 shots were fired, including 38 from Chew’s AK-47-style pistol. Smith returned fire with a small caliber handgun as he was chased throughout the neighborhood.

Smith initially was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, but that charge was dismissed after he reached a deal with Des Moines County Attorney Amy Beavers to “cooperate and testify truthfully” at Chew’s trial. Smith was the only person injured in the gunfight. He suffered a superficial wound to his right temple.

Testimony at the trial indicated the shooting was the result of a long-simmering feud between Smith and Chew’s family. What started the feud was not revealed during the four-day trial.

Both men testified they were acting in self-defense.

Timothy Chew is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 16 by District Judge Mark Kruse.

A hearing to determine whether Chew’s $750,000 cash only bond should be reduced, which was set for 8:30 a.m. today at the Des Moines County Courthouse, has been moved to 3 p.m. at the Des moines County jail for security purposes, District Judge Mary Ann Brown said late Sunday. Anyone wanting to watch the video should go to the Des Moines County Courthouse at 3 p.m., where it will be shown live on video.

Curtis Dial, Timothy Chew's attorney, filed a motion a few days after the trial seeking to have his client's bond drastically reduced.

“At the time the bond was initially set ... the defendant was facing a charge of attempted murder ... with a lengthy mandatory prison sentence if convicted,” Dial wrote in the motion. “At this time, the defendant faces no mandatory prison time.”

Dial argued Chew should be released on his own recognizance or have his bond lowered to an “appropriate amount” because he has no prior criminal history and is not a risk to flee the area before sentencing.

Prosecutors have not filed a written response to Dial's request, but they said prior to today's shooting, they didn't want Timothy Chew released until his Oct. 16 sentencing.

At the scene Sunday, Taylor criticized the Burlington Police Department and Beavers for not protecting her family.

"The day after the trial, I talked to the police and to Amy Beavers and asked them what they were going to do to protect me and my family," she said, adding several expletives. "I still haven't got an answer from either one of them. I screamed and yelled and told them something like this was going to happen if they didn't arrest A.J. And it did. Now my Peanut is dead and it's their fault."

Taylor said she was extremely upset Beavers made a "deal" with Smith by dropping charges against him in exchange for his testimony against her son at his trial. Smith initially was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, but those charges were dismissed.

"I asked Beavers why A.J. wasn't charged with attempted murder," she said today. "If he had been charged, he would still be in jail and Peanut would still be alive. She couldn't tell me why. ... It's been four hours since Peanut was shot and she hasn't been out here yet. She don't care about me or my family."

Taylor said she was even more determined to make sure Timothy Chew's bond is reduced at today's hearing so he can get out of jail.

"I need my baby out here to protect me," she said. "Look, the police are not protecting me or my family. He was protecting me when he got into the deal with A.J. because A.J. was telling people he was going to shoot me.

"I know A.J. had something to do with Peanut's death. And if he don't like me saying he had something to do with Peanut's death, then he can kill me. It's the truth. So be it."

Smith could not be reached for comment Sunday.

At the time of his death, Demarcus Chew was free on a $30,000 bond awaiting trial on unrelated charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying weapons and obstruction of justice. He was on a Sept. 19 trial docket.

Burlington police also are investigating another shooting early Sunday at Gasland, 1003 Summer St.

Sgt. William Venvertloh, a Burlington police spokesman, said police received a report of shots fired about 1:50 a.m. A woman told police her back window had been shot out.

He said one man suffered a non-life threatening injury to his foot. He was taken by private ambulance to Great River Medical Center for treatment. His name was not released.

Venvertloh said police are trying to determine if the two shootings are related.

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